In: Political geography: an interdisciplinary journal for all students of political studies with an interest in the geographical and spatial aspects, Band 22, Heft 3, S. 243-270
Argues that the transnational networks of immigrants settled in various European countries do not contribute to the erosion of the nation-state; rather, they function as a bridge that increases national commitment within both the receiving & sending countries. Over 13 million non-Europeans live legally in the 12 countries of the European Union. The increasing organization of these immigrants into transnational networks that offer solidarity based on nationality, ethnicity, & religion (especially Islam) is explored. The focus is on how the multiple interactions between transnational networks, nation-states, & supranational institutions affect European identity & bonds of transnational solidarity. It is contended that transnational organizations help to redefine political structure by encouraging the construction of global arrangements that advance a European space while also reinforcing the role of the state in the political construction of Europe. Even though they submit to supranational norms, states have maintained their autonomy & remain the driving force of the European Union. "Within this context, Europeanization means globalization on a smaller scale.". J. Lindroth
Argues that the transnational networks of immigrants settled in various European countries do not contribute to the erosion of the nation-state; rather, they function as a bridge that increases national commitment within both the receiving & sending countries. Over 13 million non-Europeans live legally in the 12 countries of the European Union. The increasing organization of these immigrants into transnational networks that offer solidarity based on nationality, ethnicity, & religion (especially Islam) is explored. The focus is on how the multiple interactions between transnational networks, nation-states, & supranational institutions affect European identity & bonds of transnational solidarity. It is contended that transnational organizations help to redefine political structure by encouraging the construction of global arrangements that advance a European space while also reinforcing the role of the state in the political construction of Europe. Even though they submit to supranational norms, states have maintained their autonomy & remain the driving force of the European Union. "Within this context, Europeanization means globalization on a smaller scale.". J. Lindroth
SUMMARY: Tatiana Skrynnikova's article explores identity formation among the Buryats. Skrynnikova begins with an historical survey of the Buryats' construction of the image of Russia (the monarchy and the state), tracing the history of Buryats contacts and coexistence with the Russian empire. Basing her conclusions on the analysis of chronicles and folkloristic sources, the author traces the terms in which Buryats depicted the "White Tsar" and accepted his rule. The author argues that identity formation among the Buryats was influenced by their historic position on the empire's Far Eastern borderland. On the one hand, there existed a cultural affinity with the Mongols living outside the territory of the Russian empire; yet, on the other hand, there existed a political identification with Russia not least because the empire's protection of Buddhism from the Chinese was seen as beneficial to the religious community. Having surveyed the historical background of Buryat identity formation through the early Soviet period, Skrynnikova investigates cultural politics and the construction of the image of Byryatia and Russia in the discourse of the contemporary Buryat intelligentsia.
An examination of the judicial treatment of migrant criminality focuses on the complex interaction between immigrants & the receiving society. Formal & informal procedures related to migrant crime are described, along with the cognitive & moral dimensions that impact both court life & the social construction of migrant crime. Empirical findings regarding petty crimes & drug-dealing cases in Italy are presented to illustrate the structural weakness of the legal position of migrants, ways in which the judicial system uses its discretionary power to contribute to definitions of what is criminal, & how migrant criminality as a social fact helps to explain various social, legal, psychological, cultural, & political aspects of migrant criminality. Special attention is given to the role played by law enforcement & prosecution practices in defining the boundaries between informal & criminal, as well as how institutional & political decisions involved in the social construction of immigrants' criminality lead to perceptions of immigrant crime as a cause for social insecurity. 4 Tables, 40 References. J. Lindroth
Since the collapse of communism the states of postcommunist Europe and Asia have defined for themselves, and have had defined for them, two primary tasks: the construction of viable market economies and the establishment of working institutions of representative democracy. The variation in political and economic outcomes in the postcommunist space makes it, without question, the most diverse "region" in the world. What explains the variation? All of the big winners of postcommunism share the trait of being geographically close to the former border of the noncommunist world. Even controlling for cultural differences, historical legacies, and paths of extrication, the spatial effect remains consistent and strong across the universe of postcommunist cases. This suggests the spatially dependent nature of the diffusion of norms, resources, and institutions that are necessary to the construction of political democracies and market economies in the postcommunist era. The authors develop and adduce evidence for the spatial dependence hypothesis, test it against rival hypotheses, and illustrate the relationships at work through three theoretically important case studies.
La démocratie par le marché. L'émergence d'un nouveau personnel politique et la construction d'une légitimité démocratique en pays tchèques (1989-1996). Magdaléna Hadjiiski [ 63-88]. La question de la construction démocratique au sortir du soviétisme est abordée à travers l'étude des modes de légitimation des nouveaux entrants en politique. Fondée sur une recherche de terrain menée en République tchèque en 1995-1997, cette étude retrace le passage du mouvement civique (Forum civique) au parti politique (Parti civique démocratique) et tente de comprendre l'importance et le sens qu'a eu cette transformation dans l'émergence d'une nouvelle élite politique mais aussi dans le passage à un modèle néo-liberal de transition démocratique.
Focuses on the Brazilian mulata (woman of mixed race) to examine the intersection of gender relations with global economics & modernization, the struggle of working women to survive in an intensified global economy, & the problems faced by black feminist anthropologists. The increasing import of female labor, the growth of the international sex trade, & male patronage as cultural capital are discussed as indications of the commodification of women & children. The social construction of the Brazilian mulata is presented as a case study employing two feminist paradigms: J. Gaines's "looking relations" (1990), & M. Hester's "eroticized construction of inequality between men & women" (1992). It is argued that the social value of mulatas depends on their identification with sexualized depictions of their lives & bodies, reflecting the hierarchical relationship between men & women & how gender inequality is racialized & eroticized. The need for black feminist theorists to expose & critique such structural inequalities & their links to the global economy is discussed. 31 References. J. Lindroth
AbstractBray Weir on the River Thames near Maidenhead was refurbished during the summers of 1993 and 1994. The existing structure, which had become unsound and unsafe to operate, was replaced by nine vertical‐lift (or buck) gates. Construction works within a cofferdam and utilizing floating plant were undertaken in two phases. Following demolition of the existing weir, a network of reinforced concrete beams was supported on new driven piled foundations. Twin leaf gates slide in guides and span between new steel A‐frames, and are lifted by pairs of threaded spindles rotated by actuators operating through gearboxes. Fine flow control is achieved by allowing overtopping of the upper leaves of the gates. Following commissioning, operational difficulties resulting from seal vibration and excessive friction on the spindles necessitated design modifications.This paper outlines a brief history of the site, the design options considered, the contract strategy employed, and includes a description of the construction phase and subsequent postcommissioning aspects.
Depuis le début des années quatre-vingt, les politiques éducatives françaises ont été décentralisées avec le transfert de certaines responsabilités aux collectivités territoriales. Les Conseils régionaux ont reçu mandat pour la construction et l'équipement des lycées, tandis que les Conseils généraux ont été chargés de l'équipement des collèges. Les compétences nouvelles des Conseils régionaux portent sur trois points : ils prennent en charge les lycées et les établissements d'éducation spéciale, ils établissent un Programme Prévisionnel des Investissements (PPI) pour la construction et la rénovation des lycées et enfin ils instaurent un Schéma Prévisionnel des Formations (SPF). Ce dernier définit, dans le domaine des enseignements professionnels et techniques, à un horizon donné, l'ensemble des besoins quantitatifs et qualitatifs de formation.